Block Leave- River Weekend Edition 2.

Friday, back to the River for our last few days in Texas. I wasn't sure if we where going to be able to make it up again before we left but I'm so glad we where able to make it work out. My little cousin Shae (little as in 16 lol) was able to come out with us as well. Its always fun when we get her together and bring her along with. That evening after we got to the house and unloaded the car, Shae and I went back into town for some grocery's. Later that evening we headed over to Chris' house, a friend of my brothers where the hubbs and a few other's had gotten together for drinks. It had been a long day so we called it a night shortly after midnight. 

Up early the next morning the hubbs and I went on a bike ride down 916 which leads to the boat ramp and old fish camp. Along the ride there's area's where you can see the river through the tree's and it looked so peaceful so early in the morning. I of course had to stop and snap a few pictures along the way. 5 miles in we turned around to head back, making for a good solid ride. The hill leading up the neighborhood is killer, I'm talking straight up, curvy and hilly. I just knew I was going to have to get off my bike half way up and walk it but I made it. I put it in the lowest gear and just dug down deep and went for it. My legs might have been dying when I got to the top but I was impressed with myself for making it. Rebecca had made a fabulously delicious breakfast for us before we headed out on the boat for the day. Sucks that she had to work today (thankfully she didn't have to be in till the afternoon) because she wasn't able to go out on the boat with us but I'm glad we where able to spend a little bit more time with her before we left. 

We loaded up the truck, headed to get the boat from the storage unit, and then to get gas and guess who pulls up at the same time as us...My Dad!! Yup, he was coming out to go on the boat with us again and they didn't tell me. I was so excited to get to spend a little bit more time with him. 

Since it was Saturday the water was a bit more busier than when we where there the weekend before on Sunday. We headed up the opposite direction towards the lake to meet up with some of Justin's friends. I'd been up into the lake before but never up that far before, all these years past and we just would always stay down in the river. We took turns skiing back up to the island and spent the day hanging out there in the water drinking a few cold ones.

Eventually dad was ready to go, so Justin hung back with his friends and the hubbs, Shae and Myself drove him back. I absolutely love driving the boat and miss it so much so when JT asked if I wanted to drive dad back I jumped at the chance. 

After getting back to the beach we hung out a bit more before slowly making our way back to the boat ramp. Skiing our way back in, making the most of our last day on the water. Shae went first, it took her a bit to get back up on the wakeboard. Poor kid would get up and fall, get up and fall. It went on for about 5 or 6 runs and then finally she road for a good bit then fell. We told her she had one more chance and then she was done. She was getting worn out and you could tell. She popped right up, road a while and then BAM!!!  Crashed right on her face. We turned around to go get her and as we where getting closer she was saying "I'm Bleeding, I'm Bleeding, I really am", "No your not, your fine" we replied. "No really I'm bleeding" she said. We got closer and sure enough her nose was bleeding and she had blood running down her face. She was laughing and making comments about how gross it was. Well of course its gross, its not going to taste good you crazy kid. We knew she was ok, and couldn't help but laugh because she was. It was one of those things where you kinda had to be there but it was hilarious. This went on for a good five minutes of so sitting in the water, her nose bleeding and us dying laughing at her.

After her escapade was over I slipped into the water and slalomed back to the boat ramp. It was a good long run to finish out our day. I miss it so much, and every time I'm always so worried I'm not going to get up or remember how to do it and I pop right up. Just like riding a bike, it all comes back so natural.

Be time we got back to the house it was going on 7pm and we still had to cook dinner. That evening we had plans to cook Kabobs and a Salad but thankfully some of Justin's friends invited us over for a little mexican fiesta. They had made ribs, all the fixings for fajita's, rice, beans, dessert. The whole nine yards. I was quite annoyed / bummed that we had bought all the food and didn't end up cooking it. But at least Justin and Rebecca would be eating good for the next few days.
Dinner with Kim and Doug was so good, they really out did themselves and we where so grateful they invited us all to come over.
The hubbs called it a early night around 9pm and I wasn't far behind him. We knew 3am would come quick, we had a early morning ahead of us followed by a long day driving back to TN.

The past two weeks where much needed for both of us, and I was / am so grateful we where able to spend so much time with our families. I miss home both AZ and TX so much.

12th Annual SparkleBerry Swamp Poker Run

When Kelly first mentioned something to me about doing the Swamp Poker Run with her & the fam, my first though was "its a run / race"?? What is it, I don't understand..... she told me to google it and look up pictures. After doing so I was in and knew it would be a blast. I've never been on a fishing boat before so it was going to be a new experience for me. A day out on the water with some great friends I couldn't wait. 

I'm sure your still wondering what the Sparkleberry Poker Run is......let me explain. Everyone gathers at Lake Marion and puts there boats in the water. There's any were from 2-10+ people in each boat and there was about 350 boats. It's along the same lines as playing poker. You can purchase as many poker cards as you'd like. We got two for the seven people that were in our boat (they are $25.00 a piece). There are 5 stops along the lake were you pull off to and pick a card from the dealers at the boat stations. You give them your poker card (a piece of paper) and they mark what card you got in the box that goes along with their station. As you go along the lake there tons of boats playing music, jammin out, enjoy lots of adult beverages and good food. It's great because you can get out and swim and hang out as long as you want. There's no time line to it, your not trying to see who get's to the end first. Your really just out there to cruise along the lake and have a good time. We spent 6 hours out on the boat and I had a nice little sun burn going on, thankfully my face didn't get burned at all thanks to my hat Kelly had got me for my birthday. Working on my summer tan!!! At the end of the day once we got back to the dock everyone met up and they were through all the poker cards and who ever had the best hands were able to pick a prize from the tables they had set up. They had prizes for just about any and every hand you could of had. Of course they started with the highest and best first. We ended up getting Harry, Kelly's husband two duck calls. He liked them so that's all that matters, they definietly got their money's worth back. 

I had such a great time, it was honestly by far one of my favorite day's here in the South so far. The only thing that could have made it even better would have been if the hubbs could have can. But I guess someone's got to train America's future Soldiers. 

Back on the Water......

(picture over load but worth it!!!!)
Sunday night I met up with my brother, a few of his friends and we all drove down to our river house. Its about a hour away from were we live, we grew up going down there every weekend and water skiing. It's absolutely so much fun, If I could pick any sport that I LOVE it would be water skiing for sure!!!! Sadly since I've gotten married and moved away I haven't been able to do much skiing which sucks. So to say I was looking forward to the next couple days on the water would be a understatement.   After we got up to the house and everyone got settled in we all set out on the patio, had a couple drinks and had a good time hanging out listening to music way to loud. Next thing we knew it was almost 2am and we were suppose to be getting up in a few hours to go get our boat.

 Here are a few pictures from our river house that I snapped while we were there. 

That morning my brother and I went for a run down to the boat ramp while the others decided to sleep off their hang overs from the night before. Its about 3 miles from the house down to the bottom of the hill to the boat ramp and back to our house. The water was smooth as glass and surprisingly pretty warm.

After we got back showered and ready we headed up the storage to get the boat. The rest of the day was spent on the water, listening to music, water skiing, having a few drinks and a all around FABULOUS TIME!!!!

 Working up the nerve to put my ski on and get behind the boat. YIKES!!!! 

 Rebecca and Myself soaking up a little sunshine. ----------Supporting the good old USA---------

My little brother and me cruising down the river. 

I finally worked up the nerve to get in the water. It was a wee bit chilly at first and I was a bit nervous about the fact if I was even going to be able to get up on my ski or not. It had been a good 4-5 years since I've Slalomed. 

You can see me skiing & my brother driving in the above pic. :)

  But guess what!!!!!!! I DID IT!!!!! I got up on my first try and didn't even struggle one bit, its like riding a bike right?!?!?!? Well not exactly, I'd like to believe its quite a bit harder. I was so excited and couldn't stop smiling. I almost started crying I was so stoked and proud of myself. The only thing that would have made it any better was if my hubbs would have been there to see me. My dad used to give me a hard time because I'd never get my hair went when I skied and well guess what.....My hair was completely dry when I finished!!! That's called not crashing yall!!!! 

 Let me go ahead and brag a little bit on my little bubbly. He's a freaking pro when it comes to Barefooting, the kid used to compete in competitions all the time and plans on getting back into them. Kids got skills and I've got the proof to show you!!!! JT getting ready to go Footin. 

 JT from start to up on his feet going at a speed of 45mph in a matter of seconds. It still amazes me that he can do this. He did learn from the best though, our dad. 

He moved up top the boom (I can barefoot but only off the boom) to show off a bit more. 

 Toe-hole up, this is were he rest's his foot (one) in a loop on the handle and the boat pulls him up. This is seriously hard and takes skills but of course he's got them!!!! I even got the crash in action lol. 

I have a couple short videos' from JT Footin & Wakeboarding I'll try to upload them soon. 

Just a few bloopers from our day. :) 

JT on the Wake Board, I've gotten up a time or two on the Wake Board before but its just not my thing. Justin's pretty good at it though!!!! 

This was a new one for me, it's called a Wake Skate. I've never heard of such a thing but the guys seem to enjoy it  quite a bit. 

 Just a few more shots from one of my many runs of the day!! Perfect start each time and never crashed or fell!!!! 

 My true passion is water skiing and I couldn't imagine not being able to do it. 

 Our boat is almost 20 years old but she's still running just like new. She's a 1996 Outboard Master Craft. It's not often at all that Master Craft makes a Outboard. I grew up learning how to ski behind this boat. We did have a Barefoot Sanger before this one but when my dad had the opportunity to get this one he jumped on it. Miss. Hawaiian Tropic of 1996 won the boat, some how my dad found out about it. She didn't want the boat she wanted the money. So she sold it to my dad, before it was built. He got to go through and customize every little detail about it. Down to the colors, seat placement and every little thing. She's been through alot and I'm glad we've been able to keep her in the family. I can't wait to go home with hubbs and take him out on our boat. 

!!!!!!!!!!!!Isn't she a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rest of the evening once we got back to the house was spent hanging out, listening to music once again probably way to loud but when your in the country were our house is that's OK. We all pitched in a made a fabulous dinner of course with a few drinks to go along with it. It felt so great to be back down at our RiverHouse and I can't wait to go back. I loved being able to hang out with my brother and get to know his Girlfriend as well. 

Day-5

Camping Day 2

Day two started out with a fabulous breakfast that included sausage, bacon and french toast. It was amazingly good for being cooked on a camp stove. K showed me a new way to make french toast that is super simple and makes small servings. 

Little miss thing working the grill, while sipping on some freshly brewed coffee. Told you we had some french toast, it was gone in minutes. You would have though these people hadn't eaten in days. After breakfast a few of us girls headed up to the showers. We were feeling uber dirty and needed some freshening up. I'd never felt better, it was so refreshing. (ok I'm sure I have but still you get the point)

Back out on the boat for some fun in the sun. Thanks to my fabulous Mistress my face was spared by the sun. I absolutely LOVE my new beach hat, I think I'd wear it every were if people wouldn't look at me funny. I suppose I'll save it for our beach & pool days though. Earlier this morning we took a short trip out on the boat and Bailey decided it would be smart to jump in the water. 

Let me paint the picture for you. When us girls got back from the showers the hubbs, pups and a few others were out on one of the boats. The rest of us loaded up on the other boat and headed out to were they were. When we got to them Bailey saw me and went crazy pacing the front deck of the boat. Were were about 10 feet apart. No one really though she would jump in and then all of a sudden SMACK. Right in she went all on her own. It was pretty comical but at the same time I felt bad. She can swim but I don't think she realized what she was getting herself into. The guys tried pulling her up by her collar which quickly slipped off. Thankfully they got her back up on the boat though, everyone on that side said her face was priceless. I wish I could have see it. So here we are in the water enjoying ourselves while at the same time trying to encourage Dingo to come join us. After pacing around from the door opening to the bench seat for about 5 minutes he to jumped in. I was dying laughing, trying to keep afloat and take a picture all at the same time. Oh our poor pups. 

Times like these are the best!!!!! 

My happy little family!!!!!!

Oh this girl cracks me up, she sure does know how to put the life into a party. Here is her and her son jumping off the front of the boat together.






We ended the evening around the camp fire of course, would you expect anything else. Dinner included burgers, hotdogs, chips, potato salad and of course some marshmallow roasting and SMORE making!!!! It's not a party without the grams, chocolate, and mellows. This is my all time favorite thing about bond fires. I love LOVE smores, the sad thing is though since they are so sweet I can only handle a couple in one sitting. I think I managed to make my way through three of them this evening. You have to enjoy every bit of them while you can right, its not every day you have a bond fire right beside your bed. Unless you are a hard core camper right!!

We (I say we but I didn't drink this weekend, so really its everyone else) went through a good share of alcohol bottles. They had everything from different types of wine, whiskey, tequila, jim bean, and other hard core liquors. There wasn't a drop left in any of them after Saturday night. How some people can take in so much alcohol and not be totally plastered is beyond me. Well back to my point.....a couple of the guys brought out boxes of kem lights and they decided they would maker perfect lanterns around the fire. Yes again these are the people that are training our future Soldiers for defend our freedom. Craziness I know right!!!!!!!

It was a long day and we had loads of fun but I was ready for some sleep come 11ish. I forget how being out on the water all day can tire you out so much. Its been a awesome experience and I'm so glad we decided to come.
Of course there was a bit of cuddling before we dosed off. I love my little family so much and wouldn't change it for anything!!!!

~DAY 198~